JOIN USScaling new heights to stop tree felling
The 31-year-old resident of Richmond Town, aiming to mobilise more support to stop government’s grand plans for Sankey Road by felling the remaining trees, was atop a tree on Sunday drawing attention to the issue on the eve of the High Court ruling.
Joined by fellow Green Peace activist Shiva, he would stay on treetop for 24 hours until the HC reaches a verdict. A 10-year veteran of environmental activism, Singh has records of sorts in climbing tall buildings across the globe to showcase the consequences of the state’s frantic developmental activities that spare little thought for the damage to the environment.
Speaking to Deccan Herald from the top of the tree through a cellphone, Singh said he is demonstrating, in an individual capacity, a way to save the remaining greenery on Sankey Road.
“The issues for which I have agitated against the state on a global level is not much different as compared to that at Sankey Tank. The road widening project, without public consultation, is the same as that of the state not heeding people’s voice at a micro level,” Singh spoke in a louder voice against the strong winds sweeping the city.
Apart from being arrested by the UK police for scaling Parliament in London, Singh had also crawled atop a 260 feet chimney of a power plant in West Bengal voicing his opposition to acquisition of forest land for coal mining.
With banners of “No Trees, No Future” fluttering over one of the two trees spared by the mass felling on June 30, Singh and Shiva were trying to ‘settle’ into comfortable positions to ward off the wind and possible rainfall.
Armed with hiking gear, a poncho for the rain along with torchlight’s, energy bars and bottle of water, the duo would catch the eye of any passer-by or motorist on the stretch. “While it might not be comfortable, we are ready to stay here overnight. At least till the time the HC gives its verdict,” he said.